Powerful drug used on elephants seized in LA County DEA operation

LOS ANGELES (KESQ) - Federal agents have seized what they described as a massive cache of a drug that's used to tranquilize large animals, including elephants, but has made its way into the illegal narcotics trade in the United States, authorities announced today.

An operation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's Los Angeles Field Office in October resulted in the seizure of 628,000 carfentanil pills. The synthetic opioid is said to be 100 times more potent than fentanyl, which is blamed for numerous overdose deaths each year.

Most of the pills were seized from one location in Los Angeles County and resulted in one person's arrest, according to the DEA.   

That individual's name was not immediately made available.   

"This is a massive seizure,'' said Brian Clark, special agent in charge of the DEA Los Angeles Field Division. "... Our agents, with vital backing from local partners, mitigated a catastrophic danger. The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated, another stark reminder to those vulnerable to drug misuse. Know what you're taking, because one pill can kill."  

Carfentanil was originally developed for veterinary use.   

The investigation, led by DEA L.A. Field Division Southwest Border Group 1 special agents and task force officers, had support from the police departments in Vernon and Baldwin Park and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.